Undersea leak remediation device and method

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a rapidly deployable, low cost, submersible leak remediation device for capturing lighter specific gravity materials leaking from a submerged leak location in a heavier specific gravity fluid. The device features: an anchor unit; a collection shroud capable of being anchored in place in proximity over the submerged leak location to permit the materials to flow upward into the collection shroud interior space, through a riser conduit and into a floating surface collection hub in fluid communication with the collection shroud. Another embodiment of the present invention utilizes a shroud system that can be employed to capture materials leaking from a side rupture of a substantially vertical pipeline and direct such materials, through a conduit, to the surface collection hub. A method of deployment and use of these embodiments to collect such leaking materials from subsea locations is also disclosed.

1 . A submersible leak remediation device for capturing lighter specific gravity materials leaking from a submerged leak location in a heavier specific gravity fluid comprising:
 a. an anchor unit;   b. a collection shroud having a lower end opening, and upper end opening, and an interior space between the upper and lower end openings, the collection shroud lower end being attachable to the anchor unit, the collection shroud lower end opening being capable of being anchored in place in proximity over the submerged leak location to permit the lighter specific gravity leaking materials to flow upward into the collection shroud interior space;   c. a floating surface collection hub in fluid communication with the collection shroud, the hub defining an enclosed perimeter space on the surface of the heavier specific gravity fluid; and   d. a primary riser conduit having an upper end and a lower end, the lower riser conduit end being attachable in fluid communication with the collection shroud upper end opening, the riser conduit upper end being attachable to the floating surface collection hub to permit the lighter specific gravity materials to flow upward therethrough and discharge into the enclosed perimeter space and float on the surface of the heavier specific gravity fluid within the confines of the hub enclosed perimeter space.   
     
     
         2 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the anchor unit comprises a ring-like or semi-ring-like shaped object, the shape being selected from the group consisting of: toroidal shapes, torus shapes, o-ring shapes, circular band shapes, oval band shapes, triangular band shapes, U-shapes, C-shapes, rectangular band shapes, square band shapes, loop shapes, semi-loop shapes. 
     
     
         3 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 2  wherein the anchor unit comprises one or more internal ballast chambers capable of receiving ballast material, the ballast chambers further comprising one or more ballast inlet ports. 
     
     
         4 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 3  wherein the ballast material is selected from the group consisting of: metal shot, sand, drilling muds, weighted drilling muds, barite slurries, hematite slurries, and densified liquid slurries. 
     
     
         5 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 2  wherein the anchor unit comprises a hollow tubular ring. 
     
     
         6 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 2  wherein the anchor unit comprises one or more connectable segments. 
     
     
         7 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 2  wherein the anchor unit is constructed from steel, stainless steel, aluminum, fiber-reinforced epoxy, carbon filament reinforced epoxy, fiberglass reinforced epoxy, reinforced plastic, carbon filament reinforced plastic, fiberglass reinforced plastic, reinforced polyethylene, combinations of those materials or other suitable composite materials. 
     
     
         8 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the collection shroud lower end opening is larger than the collection shroud upper end opening. 
     
     
         9 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 8  wherein the shape of the collection shroud interior space is selected from the group consisting of: semi-spherical, dome-like, frusto-conical, geodesic dome-like, and parachute-like. 
     
     
         10 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the collection shroud is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of: rigid, semi-rigid or flexible materials whose characteristics are high strength, low specific gravity, preferably lower than that of the higher specific gravity fluid, cold temperature flexibility and chemical resistance, polypropylene and polyethylene or the like. 
     
     
         11 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the collection shroud lower end opening is scalloped, and wherein the shroud is attached to the anchor at intervals between the scallops. 
     
     
         12 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the collection shroud lower end opening is linear, and wherein the shroud is attached to the anchor at intervals along the lower end. 
     
     
         13 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the collection shroud is attached to the anchor using suitable attachment fittings selected from the group consisting of: marine fittings, pelican hook assemblies, carabiner-type fittings, wire rope pelican hook, grommeted clasp connections, straps, chains, wires, ropes, wire ropes, closable hooks, releasable fittings, releasable hooks, swivel eye hooks, eye slip hooks, reefing hooks, and the like. 
     
     
         14 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the primary riser conduit is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of: rigid, semi-rigid or flexible materials whose characteristics are high strength, low specific gravity, cold temperature flexibility and chemical resistance, polypropylene and polyethylene and the like. 
     
     
         15 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the shroud and the riser conduit are of a unitary construction. 
     
     
         16 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the riser conduit is a unitary construction. 
     
     
         17 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the riser conduit comprises one or more riser conduit segments that are attached together. 
     
     
         18 . The submersible leak remediation device of  claim 1  wherein the riser conduit further comprises one or more gas vents. 
     
     
         19 . A method for remediating under water leaks comprising the following steps:
 a. Lowering a submersible leak remediation device designed for capturing lighter specific gravity materials leaking from a submerged leak location in a heavier specific gravity fluid, the leak remediation device comprising: an anchor unit; a collection shroud having a lower end opening, and upper end opening, and an interior space between the upper and lower end openings, the collection shroud lower end being attachable to the anchor unit, the collection shroud lower end opening being capable of being anchored in place in proximity over the submerged leak location to permit the lighter specific gravity leaking materials to flow upward into the collection shroud interior space; a floating surface collection hub in fluid communication with the collection shroud, the hub defining an enclosed perimeter space on the surface of the heavier specific gravity fluid; and a primary riser conduit having an upper end and a lower end, the lower riser conduit end being attachable in fluid communication with the collection shroud upper end opening, the riser conduit upper end being attachable to the floating surface collection hub to permit the lighter specific gravity materials to flow upward therethrough and discharge into the enclosed perimeter space and float on the surface of the heavier specific gravity fluid within the confines of the hub enclosed perimeter space;   b. positioning the anchor unit so that the shroud lower end opening is located over the submerged leak location;   c. permitting the leaking materials to rise into the shroud interior space and up through the riser conduit to the surface collection hub;   d. permitting the leaking materials to pool on the water surface within the interior confines of the hub enclosed perimeter space; and   e. removing the pooled leaking materials from the floating surface collection hub for transport to a desired end location.   
     
     
         20 . A submersible vertical pipe side leak containment and collection device for capturing lighter specific gravity materials leaking from a submerged substantially vertical pipe leak location in a heavier specific gravity fluid comprising:
 a. an upper c-shaped shroud loop;   b. a lower c-shaped shroud loop;   c. a collection shroud attached between the upper and lower c-shaped loops;   d. an upper shroud pneumatic expandable seal capable of expanding into sealed relation with the pipe above the pipe leak location;   e. a shroud upper discharge port located proximate the upper c-shaped shroud loop;   f. a floating surface collection hub in fluid communication with the collection shroud, the hub defining an enclosed perimeter space on the surface of the heavier specific gravity fluid; and   g. a riser conduit having an upper end and a lower end, the lower riser conduit end being attached in fluid communication with the shroud upper discharge port, the riser conduit upper end being attachable to the floating surface collection hub to permit the lighter specific gravity materials to flow upward therethrough and discharge into the enclosed perimeter space and float on the surface of the heavier specific gravity fluid within the confines of the hub enclosed perimeter space.